State suffers loss of Rs 1,200 Cr due to rains, debris one of the cause: CM

The State has suffered losses of Rs 1, 217.29 crores due to excessive rains, flash floods and cloudburst during the current monsoon season. Public Works Department suffered maximum losses of Rs 735 crore due to rains in form of damages to roads, bridges, breast walls, retaining walls etc, CM Jai Ram Thakur said on September 17 in a meeting.

He said that “It has been observed that although maximum damages were due to heavy rains but unplanned dumping of debris was also another cause of damages to the roads.”

Proper dumping sites must be identified and it must be ensured that the debris was disposed of in the marked and identified places.

Thakur said that Irrigation and Public Health Department also suffered losses of Rs 328.78 crore. Several major, medium and minor drinking water supply and irrigation schemes had been damaged due to landslides and heavy rains. The agriculture and horticulture sectors also suffered a loss of Rs 88.81 crore while power sector suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 24.50 crore.

He said that the State Government has provided Rs 229.64 crore for carrying immediate restoration and repair works of the damaged infrastructures in the State.

The Chief Minister said that as many as 33 cloudbursts and 391 landslides took place in the State which resulted in huge losses to the property.

He said that one company of NDRF had been positioned at Nurpur in Kangra district besides daily monitoring of water level in major rivers was also being ensured. For the first time, landslide sensors were installed at Kotrupi and Aut in Mandi district for early warning of landslides to avoid any untoward incidents.

The Chief Minister said that State Government would soon submit a memorandum of losses and damages to the Government of India for financial assistance.